Royal DSM, Herleen, The Netherlands, and Avril, Paris, France, announced the launch of their joint venture, Olatein, to produce canola (rapeseed) proteins for the global food market. One year after announcing their intention to work together, Avril and DSM have finalized their partnership and will begin construction on a manufacturing facility in Dieppe, France. Marketed and sold by DSM, CanolaPRO provides a high nutritional value, a balanced taste profile and enhances vegan and vegetarian products such as meat and dairy alternatives, as well as beverages and ready-to-mix products, they say. Designed to meet the growing demand for proteins, the partnership draws on each partners’ know-how, including DSM’s patented process and technology for extracting high-quality protein from canola meal, and Avril’s 35-year legacy in oilseed and protein crop production.   

London, United Kingdom-based Tate & Lyle PLC named Victoria Spadaro Grant as its new president of innovation and commercial development. She also will be a member of Tate & Lyle’s executive committee. In this role, Grant will lead Tate & Lyle’s global approach to product application and technical services, and scientific, nutrition and regulatory affairs, as well as delivering the company’s research and development (R&D) strategy in partnership with global business divisions and external innovation partners. In a statement, Nick Hampton, chief executive officer, said: “Innovation is central to our growth strategy and so we are delighted to welcome someone of Victoria’s experience and quality to Tate & Lyle. Her extensive R&D knowledge and strong customer-facing expertise will be of great benefit to us as we look to deliver on our growth ambitions.” Grant succeeds the role from Andrew Taylor who now is leading Tate & Lyle’s new region of Asia, Middle East, Africa and Latin America.

Folium Biosciences, Colorado Springs, Colo., announced it has completed the buildout and received a Certificate of Occupancy for the world’s largest cannabinoid extraction and purification facility, located in Pueblo West, Colo. The new 110,000-square-foot Pueblo West facility will produce up to 22,000 kg of 0.0 percent THC broad spectrum CBD oil each month. To satisfy accelerating demand from CBD product manufacturers worldwide, the plant has dedicated production lines to meet CBD regulatory requirements in the United States, European Union, Japan, and South Korea, among other countries.  The state-of-the-art Folium facility is FDA registered and purpose-built for extraction, purification and formulation of cannabinoids and terpenes. Folium’s operations in North America, South America, Europe and Asia provide a global reach as the worldwide cannabinoid industry continues its rapid growth. This international footprint and local market expertise, coupled with the extensive scalable manufacturing made possible by the Pueblo West facility, will enable Folium to cultivate new channels for its innovative, high-quality, science-backed products more successfully than its competitors.

Ingredion Inc., Westchester, Ill., recently completed its rice manufacturing expansion in Banglen, Thailand. The expansion is part of the company’s ongoing investment strategy to support customers globally through the growth of its specialty food ingredients’ business. “Ingredion is a pioneer in the clean label movement and we understand consumer attitudes and preferences toward specific ingredients and claims, thanks to more than 25 years of experience in this space and the largest consumer research globally conducted on a regular basis,” said Daniel Haley, Ingredion’s global platform leader of Clean and Simple, in a statement “Being a well-recognized kitchen cupboard staple, non-GMO, hypoallergenic and gluten free, rice continues to be an on-trend ingredient.” In other news, Jeremy Xu has been named senior vice president and chief innovation officer at Ingredion. In this capacity, Xu is responsible for advancing the company’s focus on specialty growth platforms, identifying new growth opportunities and overseeing the Ingredion Idea Labs innovation centers. Xu will report to Jim Zallie, president and chief executive officer, and succeed Tony DeLio who retired in February 2021 after 14 years of service.

Secaucus, N.J.-based the Martin Bauer Group is celebrating its 90th anniversary and 90 years of passion for botanicals. Founded by Martin Bauer 90 years ago at a small farm in Vestenbergsgreuth in southern Germany, the company grew from an herb processing plant to an international group of companies known as the nature network. With 4,000 employees, the company manufactures its teas, extracts and powders and handles more than 200 botanicals sourced from more than 80 countries at 20 state-of-the-art manufacturing facilities worldwide. “To be part of an organization where respect for the land, product, and people is not only valued, but prioritized, is priceless. Our North America Division was established almost 25 years ago, but we carry with us the 90 years of tradition special to the Martin Bauer Group as well as their vision of a more sustainable future,” said Ennio Ranaboldo, chief executive officer of the Martin Bauer Group in North America, in a statement.